What did you do with your bike(s) today?

[Dent]

Well... Just kinda looked at them . Fiddled a bit . Took the front wheel quick release off the Malvern Star Kinetic. It's not pretty . Not responding to methods so I'm gonna swap it for a black or natural alloy one. There is black bearing retainers on the headstock so it will match. Yeah it ruins the complete original complete condition of the bike but I've got a box for that stuff and I've swapped the bars out anyway . Have a carbon giant TCR here to work on..waiting for those funky inline barrell adjusters and a couple of red jagwire kits . How dear is bar tape?for real it was $60

[bychosis]

Recently purchased a couple of vintage MTBs, Fisher Joshuas to go with my Trek Y11 bought new and a Y22. Also picked up an Avanti for parts.

Pulled the parts bike apart. Then rifled through my stash of derailleurs, shifters, levers etc checking the model codes. Tomorrow morning in the quiet I'll look up the manufacture dates to see which are closest to the rebuilds era (97,98). Think they might be a bit new, but will be OK as I'm not a perfectionist for an as new restoration. Happy with rideable and near OG.

[bychosis]

Success. Most parts are age appropriate!

On a sour note cant find one of the bolts that hold the fork lowers on some Rock Shox that are getting ready for the Y22.

[Dent]

Good one . It's good when you know your stash does what it is there for .

[Dent]

It was not today. It was today 8 days ago. So I need a chain whip . Could buy one . My response often to problems is just to figure out what is actually needed and making it in my workshop. So a chain whip has the job of grasping a sprocket on the main drive to lock the chain in order to......you guys know . So I made one out of and old chain , a 300mm or so length of dressed timber about 25x30mm and two long fibro clouts . Total investment ... Some thinking, stuff I had in my stash drilling two holes just overneat in the timber . Then I fed a bit of chain through . Poked the nails in where the sprocket teeth go ... Put the device on the group set . Stuck the half in drive with the cassette tool on and bingo.

The sprocket bit nicely into the timber and my only disappointment was the assembly offered no resistance as it was undone . I won't post a detailed drawing . It's simple . I don't know the size of anything I did

Death to another yellow dork disc . Now...... lets not start ... A new spoke protector will go on . Lots of bikes in the world are ridden by folk who have very limited understanding or ability to maintain a machine. So lets advance the ones who understand how derailleurs work ( the B screw ... Crikey it's just turn it and see really ) let alone when sounds coming from bike are not good . This bike will be ridden by a person who is not a dork but has no idea about preparing for an ascent . You guys know what happens... It's in a gear too tall... Lose speed then start searching under load and it's just a bag full of chisels and gravel . Precisely why my gurl's Dutch bike has the wonderful Nexus 8 speed rear drive . It took some time to work it out and get it reliable before I took it all apart ( again ) so she could ride it as it is meant to be. Actually built another Dutch bike to cover the build gap ....that's love right there

[stevenaaus]

Good one . It's good when you know your stash does what it is there for .

Yes.. The problem being - when can't find the part in need, even though you're 90% sure you own it, and have to buy an extra spare part anyway.

[Dent]

Yeah it's a bugger when you have something in the stand and you can see a bike from what you have in your stash... As a Carpenter I call it my rack ... Stuff you have . Often I get a bike by rescue , 3 bikes in a take 'em all or take none , cheap on farcebook or paying good coin for something of quality . I'm finding it's the little things . Cables , outers , noodles etc, that add cost to a low cost build , refurb' or just a proper service . Am I going to buy a couple of big rolls of jagwire stuff ? A boxes of tubes and god knows how much other stuff to make it cost effective . $12 for a quick link !!!

[elantra]

Yeah it’s great to have a “stash” of components in the shed - to start mucking around with on a rainy day (like today)

I have a collection of tyres, tubes, cables, cable outers, wheels, derailleurs etc
And a few saddles, cranksets, handlebars, etc.

But most of the surplus saddles in my collection are painful to look at and even worse to actually sit on. For emergencies only.

A notable exception is an “SDG” saddle which was on a bike that I got at a garage sale for 5 dollars.
These are really nice saddles, I think made in the USA. I think that SDG stands for “saddle design group” but I could be wrong.

Another ripper from a garage sale was an early 1990’s Montagner racing bike with full Campagnolo equipment. It was 50 dollars at local garage sale and I was very lucky to notice it as I drove past.
The frame had a lot of battle scars and was not my size so I stripped it down, cleaned it up and gave it to a friend - who gave me a 1970’s Motobecane frame (my size) in return.
A Motobecane in exchange for a Montagner

Then there is the local Tip Shop, always worth a look but anything decent goes quickly so you have to be lucky.
There I picked up a classic late ‘80’s Daccordi for 5 dollars. Unfortunately very battered condition but got some nice Campag bits off it
And soon afterwards another late 80’s Repco in slightly better condition and my size for 10 dollars.
I thought that it was a bit mid-range generic but when stripped down and cleaned up discovered her to be a genuine “made in Australia” example.

Better get back to the shed now….

[Mr Purple]

Yeah it’s great to have a “stash” of components in the shed - to start mucking around with on a rainy day (like today)

Yep, I'm doing this today for the same reason - plus it may be another six weeks before I'm allowed outdoors.

So far I'm up to 5 x 11 speed chains, 5 x 25mm tubeless tyres and 6 saddles.

Might have to rebuild the sadly demised Focus/Ultegra as a steel frame disc build just to get through the spares.

[nezumi]

Cleaning out and organising the garage today and I spotted my chain checker. Tried it on my road bike - definitely well past replacement time!

So, a chain swap it was. Now to keep an eye on how it shifts for the next week to see if the cassette needs replacement too.

[Dent]

I've got my first " flipper " in the stand . It's a Radius unisex . I think it's an Apollo type of thing . It cost me $50 . It's all there . A couple of cable ends ( mainly as I was ragtailing the frame and stabbed my fingers ) . I'm asking $200. Great condition but it's not cool or sexy and the forks won't fit another bike I built so rather than turn it into a donor bike it goes to make room .

[Retrobyte]

I went wax a week ago on my commuter so doing the same with the roadie. Removed the cassette and chain from my roadie and put on a newly stripped and waxed chain, plus new pulleys ("ceramic" from AliExpress). Dismantled the cassette and gave it a thorough clean, same with the chainwheels.

Pro tip - don't buy cheap tools. I have gradually been buying quality tools but still have some old cheapies in the toolbox ....



Whilst a quick link tool is handy for removal, a pretty simple way to engage a quick link is to push down on the pedal with one foot while the brakes are on.

[familyguy]

Playing the 'soak it in penetrating oil, leave it for a bit, repeat' game to get a rather stuck stem out. It's a tall one, at least 50% of the steerer is filled with stem. The wedge is stuck too. Fun times, but I'll win out one way or another.

[Dent]

Ok so bike folk have been busy . Been researching wax chains . My head does not have enough room . Agree on buying quality tools for jobs .....even maybe rarely used ..if you have doubt about spending money on tools then have a look at your collection of bicycles. There are some sexy expensive bikes right ? . So I guess it comes down folk who love riding bikes with different levels of mechanical understanding and beyond that , the skill to undertake a task ... Remove and repair a tyre .. Break a chain ... My world is full of very tactile things . Building houses and bespoke timber pieces. Lots of cars , boats . Things that Engineers ,Technicians and Skilled Tradesman do . I could not put together an XL spreadsheet, or perform eye surgery... Ok so not all folk have had tools in their hands . I'm lucky . Can spot a 5 mm Allen from a 6 mm at distance . It would take me longer find the " p " on my keyboard . Just saying if you read this it's not that hard to fix a bike

[foo on patrol]

I went wax a week ago on my commuter so doing the same with the roadie. Removed the cassette and chain from my roadie and put on a newly stripped and waxed chain, plus new pulleys ("ceramic" from AliExpress). Dismantled the cassette and gave it a thorough clean, same with the chainwheels.

Pro tip - don't buy cheap tools. I have gradually been buying quality tools but still have some old cheapies in the toolbox ....



Whilst a quick link tool is handy for removal, a pretty simple way to engage a quick link is to push down on the pedal with one foot while the brakes are on.

I have always done it this way and thought that others would do it also.

Foo

[warthog1]

Easier with the chain tool. Link comes off at the bottom and replacement chain goes on the same way. Using the tool also lets you know how the quick link is going, with respect to firmness of the snap as it clicks back in, if you reuse them.

[elantra]

^^^ Yes it’s a worry if the Quick link only requires finger-force to engage fully

Except the Wipperman ones I guess, which are designed for installation with finger-force only.

Which begs the question, how do you work out if a Wipperman Quick link is a bit long in the tooth

[elantra]

I think I did my slowest-ever bike ride today.
Average speed of 11 km/hr.
Distance = 30 km
Time = 2 hours and 45 mins

I was rather apprehensive, because I had constructed the route in my head, based on Strava maps and a very limited experience of part of the route.
I feared that it would be completely impassable due to roads (tracks) completely overgrown with dense vegetation.
And this was close to what I found for the first 5 or 6 km.
Lots of creek crossings, and after rain the other day no chance of not getting wet feet.
Between Creek crossings the track was 2 muddy wheel ruts with long grass between them.
And steep in places and lots of fallen trees to push past. So mainly walking not riding

I didn’t even know if the track would continue “all the way” to the “main road” which would be stage 2 of “the ride”
But after a while I could hear the roar of internal-combustion engines from the main road. And this was getting louder
Then a big snake appeared out of nowhere. But in a split second I realised it was a Python.
Not likely to be venomous.

5 mins later I was at the main road.
Put the helmet back on (who needs a helmet on while walking the bike) and turned on the lights.
It felt strange to be travelling at speed
5 minutes later I was at the Border crossing - into Queensland. Stopped to take pics of a memorial to James Westray, who was killed in the aftermath of an aeroplane crash nearby in 1937

The next 8 km were mainly downhill. And winding.
Huge amount of fun.
Perfect weather conditions.
Bumpy road but managed to avoid all the big bumps. Only one vehicle passed me - a big truck.
And I caught it again on the corners

Then the turnoff from the main road, onto the gravel.
This went on like that for 5 or 6km, mostly uphill, but not ridiculously steep so rideable.

Soon I was back at an interstate border gate.
But this one is kept permanently locked.
It’s called the King George Gate.
Had to climb over it.
On the other side it was a bit a grassy track.
Again lots of fallen trees, but only small ones.
Also lots of goannas. I counted 4 of them in less than half a kilometre. But they don’t like to hang around for a photo

Mostly downhill but very rough in places.
Sometimes only walking pace.
Eventually once more the reassuring distant sounds of a main road (the Summerland Way)
And then there it is - on the other side of a small gate - the main road !

The gate is not locked and on the other side facing the main road is a sign attached
It says “Trail closed due to hazardous conditions”
Fair dinkum ?
I didn’t see anything that I would have described as hazardous.
I spose there might have been some snakes hiding in the undergrowth.
And there were a few small trees down which I had to dismount from the bike and step over.
The biggest hazard up there would be getting a bit lost in the bush, but that risk probably hasn’t changed much since the road was replaced (by a newer road) almost 80 years ago.
Nothing nicer than a good day in the Aussie bush
Even the drive home was enjoyable

[redsonic]

^^^^^ Nice description, thanks for sharing. I used to spend a lot of time in the bush. Haven't seen a goanna for ages. Glad they're still around.

[elantra]

^^^^^ Nice description, thanks for sharing. I used to spend a lot of time in the bush. Haven't seen a goanna for ages. Glad they're still around.

Here’s the Strava Route for the original route of the Mount Lindesay Highway -

https://www.strava.com/routes/3277494560626574616

This road was replaced by an alternative route on the other side of the mountain, back in the 1940’s.
The road corridor still exists but you can’t get through with motorised vehicles because there are 2 rather enormous gates that are locked.
And also it’s definitely not road bike country on the NSW side !
On the Qld side it’s a proper gravel road but it ends at a locked gate a few hundred metres from the actual border.
Between this gate and the border you must stay slightly to the EAST of the actual old road corridor (because the actual road corridor is now on private property)
But once you walk up the grassy slope to the actual border fence then a short walk along the fence towards the enormous mountain and you will see the historic Border crossing gate - which is still officially referred to as the King George gate.
It’s up here that you will see quite a few goannas !

Obviously the “ride” can be done in the reverse direction.
A light-ish bicycle is advantageous so that you can easily lift it over the gates.
You could make a loop out of it, incorporating the main road towards Woodenbong, or the Lions Rd etc but that would involve a bit of distance on a main road.
I made a loop out of it by doing about 10 km on the road to Woodenbong (the “new” Mt Lindesay HWY) and then on Hilderbrands “Road” but I would DEFINITELY not recommend Hilderbrands Road because it is EXTREMELY rough and there are some gates on it that indicate that it is probably private property

[jaseyjase]

Playing the 'soak it in penetrating oil, leave it for a bit, repeat' game to get a rather stuck stem out. It's a tall one, at least 50% of the steerer is filled with stem. The wedge is stuck too. Fun times, but I'll win out one way or another.

jimbo, assuming youve taken the bolt out?

Ive had luck in the past where i lightly put the bolt back in and then gently tapped the bolt to dislodge the wedge

[familyguy]

Playing the 'soak it in penetrating oil, leave it for a bit, repeat' game to get a rather stuck stem out. It's a tall one, at least 50% of the steerer is filled with stem. The wedge is stuck too. Fun times, but I'll win out one way or another.

jimbo, assuming youve taken the bolt out?

Ive had luck in the past where i lightly put the bolt back in and then gently tapped the bolt to dislodge the wedge

Yeah, the wedge is 110% stuck. I flattened the stem bolt somewhat with the hammer, that's how stuck it all is. The steerer tube is bulged just the barest hint at the wedge point. But, given the stem is a massively tall Technomic and the wedge is a long way in, once the stem is out I will probably just leave the wedge in there. Stem is sawn off and slotting has begun as penetrating oil did nada. It will come out in time once I can get to the bigger tools in a few weeks.

[jaseyjase]

Yeah, the wedge is 110% stuck. I flattened the stem bolt somewhat with the hammer, that's how stuck it all is. The steerer tube is bulged just the barest hint at the wedge point. But, given the stem is a massively tall Technomic and the wedge is a long way in, once the stem is out I will probably just leave the wedge in there. Stem is sawn off and slotting has begun as penetrating oil did nada. It will come out in time once I can get to the bigger tools in a few weeks.

dang!

[elantra]

^^^
Stuck (Quill) stems is an interesting topic :

I am far from an expert on these things but it used to be a common problem.. prob not so common these days because threadless headset stems seem to have largely replaced the Quill stems since 25 yrs ago

In my experience with bikes from the 1970’s 80’s 90’s , stuck quill stems are more common and more difficult to solve than stuck seatposts.

It’s quite annoying when you purchase (or are given) a rather nice retro frame and then you can’t get the seatpost or the stem out.
Hurts even more if you end up having to destroy a nice seatpost or worse, a nice stem !

Perhaps stems are more likely to be hopelessly stuck than seatposts because there might have been a reluctance to use a bit of grease for the installation of quill stems years ago, whereas most people would agree that some grease on an aluminium seatpost into a steel frame is the way to go

[jaseyjase]

aero ring for the allez